Sociology at York, Past, Present and Future

Andrew Webster: acknowledgements and other highlights

There were two other highlights that must be reported.

During the wine reception at the end of the first day, Michael Mulkay’s magnificent ‘ Woldscape’ was presented to the Department anafter a word of thanks from Andrew Webster, Mike then gave a most eloquent commentary on his interpretation of the rattan piece, made up of three design elements – a sphere, spirals and a fan

This reading of the piece was warmly received by everyone and makes it an even more special gift to the Department.These reflected the department, its main avenues of inquiry and the wider body of students through whom knowledge flows to spread into the wider society as they move on in their lives. Finally, Laurie Taylor gave a bravura performance as an after-dinner speaker at the Castle Museum, recounting with a magnificent blend of fact and fiction his own first days at York and discovering what teaching, admin and research meant.

taylor

It was straight out of his best University of Poppleton repertoire and delivered with panache and punch, without missing a beat. He himself, of course, made a major contribution to the intellectual legacy of the Department especially through his leading role in the York deviancy conferences during the early days. His current BBC programme ‘Thinking Allowed’ is an excellent vehicle through which he deploys his sociological engagement with and understanding of the world in a most accessible and understated way.

The Conference provided an opportunity to renew old and make new contacts and friends, creating a strong sense of ‘co-presence’ a term from Goffman used by Trevor in his opening paper. Any future will, as in the past, depend on a continual renewal of such co-presence and collaboration.

Last but by no means least, I would like to thank the core members of the Conference Planning group, Luana Pritchard, Phil Stanworth, Alison Taylor, Emma Uprichard and Robin Wooffitt, for all their 'co-presence' and help in making the whole thing go so smoothly.

Other photographs